Opening the books on Joe Biden

Late last night (or early this morning for those not on Pacific time), Barack Obama named his running mate: Sen. Joe Biden.

Biden made a stab at the Democratic presidential nomination himself this year; the first time he gave it a go was back in 1988. That year's election was chronicled in detail by Richard Ben Cramer in his book "What It Takes." Of Biden's ability to connect with audiences, he wrote:

Joe would get to talking fast, with conviction -- something near joy in his voice -- and he'd haul them along, until they could feel his belief like a hand on their backs, until they could see it as he could, until the thing was shining in the air...

Of Biden's youth, he emphasized his scrappiness:

Joe Biden had balls. Lots of times, more balls than sense. This was from the jump -- as a little kid. He was little, too, but you didn't want to fight him -- or dare him. There was nothing he wouldn't do.... Joe was kind of skinny, and he stuttered, and the kids called him Bye-Bye, for the way he sounded when he tried to say his name. But Joey would never back down, and he knew how to box, when no one else did....

Biden has his own say, of course. It seems a candidate doesn't strive for high office anymore without a memoir. Biden's -- "Promises to Keep," published in 2007 by Random House -- begins with his own recollection of that stutter, concluding:

It’s a funny thing to say, but even if I could, I wouldn’t wish away the darkest days of the stutter. That impedimenta ended up being a godsend for me. Carrying it strengthened me and, I hoped, made me a better person. And the very things it taught me turned out to be invaluable lessons for my life as well as my chosen career.

As for how Biden's skills on the podium -- or his scrappiness -- will play out in the campaign to come, I'll keep reading the L.A. Times blog Top of the Ticket.

Carolyn Kellogg

photo by democratic_flickr

Comments

[Puciret]

It appears the first disciple has now been anointed and includes being forgiven the " clean speech " with the admonition " thou shalt now go forth and sin no more."